Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawSix’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawSix’. A new cultivar primarily characterized by its medium to large, sweet tasting fruit, early flowering and early harvest maturity, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘DrisStrawSix’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry cultivar designated ‘DrisStrawSix’ and botanically known as Fragaria×ananassa. This new strawberry cultivar was discovered in Hillsborough, Fla. in December, 2002 and originated from a cross between the female proprietary parent ‘74G14’ (unpatented) and the male proprietary parent ‘6F-158’ (unpatented). The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated at a nursery in Shasta County, Calif. ‘DrisStrawSix’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing at a nursery in Hillsborough, Fla. for five years. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the new cultivar at various stages of development as nearly true as it is possible to make in color reproductions.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit including fruit at various stages of development.

FIG. 2 shows leaves of the plant with three leaflets.

FIG. 3 shows the upperside of several of the flowers.

FIG. 4 shows the whole fruit.

FIG. 5 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following description of ‘DrisStrawSix’ is based on observations taken from the 2003 to 2008 growing seasons in Hillsborough, Fla. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. ‘DrisStrawSix’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (R.H.S.) (2001).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES

‘DrisStrawSix’ is distinguished from its parents ‘74G14’ or ‘6F158’ mainly by yield and fruit size. ‘DrisStrawSix’ has a significantly higher yield than either ‘74G14’ or ‘6F158’. Additionally, ‘DrisStrawSix’ has a fruit size that is thirty percent larger than either ‘74G14’ or ‘6F158’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Table 1 shows plant characteristics of the new variety compared with plant characteristics of the commercial varieties ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,475) and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,298). Plant characteristics include plant height, diameter, number of crowns per plant, habit, density of individual plant and vigor.

TABLE 1 ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawSix’ Atlantis’ Sanibel’ Plant height 21.3 19.8 20.2 (cm) Plant diameter 44.0 38.9 38.7 (cm) Number of 4 3 2 crowns/plant Habit Flat globose Flat globose Flat Density of Medium Between medium Medium individual and dense plant Vigor Between medium Medium Strong and strong

Table 2 shows leaf characteristics of the new cultivar compared with leaf characteristics of ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’. Leaf characteristics include terminal leaflet length and width in centimeters, length to width ratio, number of teeth per terminal leaflet, shape of teeth, color of upperside and underside of leaf, leaf shape in cross section, leaf blistering, leaf glossiness, number of leaflets, terminal leaflet margin, terminal leaflet length to width ratio, shape of the leaflet, shape of the leaf apex and shape of leaf base.

TABLE 2 Leaf Characteristic ‘DrisStrawSix’ ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ ‘Driscoll Sanibel’ Terminal leaf- 8.35 7.89 8.56 let length (cm) Terminal leaf- 8.16 8.01 8.47 let width (cm) Terminal leaf- 1.0 1.0 1.0 let length/ width ratio No. teeth/ter- 20 23 22 minal leaflet Shape of Between obtuse Between obtuse Rounded teeth and rounded and rounded Color of upper- RHS 137B RHS 137A RHS 131B side of leaf Dark green Dark green Dark green Color of under- RHS 138B RHS 140D RHS 142C side of leaf Medium green Light green Light green Leaf shape in Between slightly Between slightly Slightly concave cross section concave and flat concave and flat Leaf blistering Medium Medium Between medium and strong Leaf glossiness Medium Weak Medium No. leaflets Three only Three only Three only Terminal leaf- Revolute Flat Flat let margin Terminal leaf- As long as broad As long as broad As long as broad let: length/ width ratio Terminal leaf- Orbicular Ovate Between oval and let shape ovate Terminal leaf- Slightly oblique Not available Obtuse let base shape Terminal leaf- Rounded Rounded Rounded let apex shape

Table 3 shows information about the petiole, the petiolule, the bract, and the stipule of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’. This includes petiole length in centimeters, petiole diameter in centimeters, petiole pubescence, pose of hairs on the petiole, color of the petiol, color of the petiolule, petiolule length in centimeters, petiolule diameter in centimeters, bract frequency per petiole, stipule length in centimeters, stipule width in centimeters, and stipule pubescence.

TABLE 3 ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawSix’ ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ Sanibel’ Petiole length 13.4 13.7 15.3 (cm) Petiole dia- 0.383 0.430 0.455 meter (cm) Petiole Medium Dense Medium pubescence Petiole pose Outwards Outwards Between of hairs outwards and downwards Petiole color RHS 145B RHS 145C RHS 145D Light yellow- Light yellow- Light yellow- green green green Petiolule color RHS 145B RHS 145C RHS 145D Light yellow- Light yellow- Light yellow- green green green Petiolule 1.208 1.451 1.626 length (cm) Petiolule 0.200 0.213 0.233 diameter (cm) Bract 1 2 2 frequency Stipule length 4.1 3.7 3.9 (cm) Stipule width 0.096 0.087 0.112 (cm) Stipule Medium Dense Medium pubescence Stipule Weak anthcyanin coloration

Table 4 shows stolon characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’. These characteristics include the number of stolons, average number of daughter plants, the anthocyanin coloration of the stolons, the thickness of the stolons, and the pubescence of the stolons.

TABLE 4 ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawSix’ ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ Sanibel’ Stolon Number Many Average number of 50 53 52 daughter plants Stolon Anthocyanin Strong Between weak Strong and medium Stolon Thickness Medium Medium Medium Stolon Pubescence Dense Medium Medium

Table 5 shows inflorescence characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’. These characteristics include inflorescence position relative to foliage, relative flower size, flower diameter in centimeters (measured from petal tip to petal tip), petal shape, petal spacing (relative spacing of petals), petal apex shape, petal margin, petal base shape, petal length in centimeters, petal width in centimeters, petal length to width ratio, typical and observed number of petals, petal color, calyx diameter in centimeters (measured on back of flower from sepal tip to sepal tip), diameter of calyx relative to corolla, diameter of inner calyx relative to outer, sepal shape, sepal apex shape, sepal margin, sepal length in centimeters (measured from sepal tip to point of attachment to receptacle), sepal width in centimeters, typical and observed number of sepals, receptacle color and anther color.

TABLE 5 ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawSix’ Atlantis’ Sanibel’ Inflorescence Above Between level Between beneath position rela- with and above and level with tive to foliage Flower size Between small Between Large and medium medium and large Flower dia- 2.075 2.369 2.070 meter (cm) Petal shape Orbicular Orbicular Orbicular Petal spacing Overlapping Overlapping Between touching and overlapping Petal apex Rounded Rounded Rounded shape Petal margin Entire Entire Entire Petal base Concavo-convex Rounded Rounded shape Petal length 1.252 1.248 1.166 (cm) Petal width 1.322 1.302 1.188 (cm) Petal length/ As long as broad As long as broad As long as broad width ratio Petal length/ 0.9 1.0 1.0 width ratio Typical and ob- 6 5 6 served petal number Petal color RHS 155C RHS 155C RHS 155C White White White Calyx dia- 3.304 2.871 2.997 meter (cm) Calyx dia- Between same Between same Between same meter relative size and larger size and larger size and larger to corolla Inner calyx dia- Between smaller Same size Larger meter relative and same size to outer Sepal shape Elliptical Elliptical Elliptical Sepal apex Convex Convex Convex shape Sepal margin Entire Entire Entire Sepal length 1.200 1.040 1.172 (cm) Sepal width 0.660 0.713 0.637 (cm) Typical and ob- 11 11 11 served sepal number Receptacle RHS 4A RHS 149A RHS 149B color Medium yellow Dark yellow- Dark yellow- green green Anther color RHS 13A RHS 9A RHS 9A Dark yellow Dark yellow Dark yellow

Table 6 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’. These characteristics include fruiting truss length and diameter in centimeters, number of berries per fruiting truss, fruiting truss attitude, fruiting truss length, fruit length in centimeters, fruit width in centimeters, fruit length to width ratio, fruit hollow length and width in centimeters, fruit hollow length to width ratio, fruit weight in grams, relative fruit size, predominant fruit shape, difference in shape between primary and secondary fruits, band without achenes, unevenness of fruit surface, fruit skin color, evenness of fruit color, fruit glossiness, insertion of achenes, achene coloration (sunward and shaded sides of berry), insertion of calyx, pose of calyx segments, size of calyx in relation to fruit, adherence of calyx, firmness of flesh, color of the fruit flesh, evenness of the flesh color, distribution of flesh color, relative size of hollow center, sweetness of fruit, acidity of fruit, texture of fruit when tasted, time of flowering, harvest maturity, type of bearing, grams of fruit per plant.

TABLE 6 ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawSix’ Atlantis’ Sanibel’ Fruiting truss 25.2 22.7 19.7 length (cm) Fruiting truss 0.336 0.423 0.404 diameter (cm) Number of ber- 1 3 1 ries per fruiting truss Fruiting truss Prostrate Prostrate Prostrate attitude Fruiting truss Between medium Medium Medium length and long Fruit length 5.410 4.200 5.180 (cm) Fruit width 4.130 3.640 4.610 (cm) Fruit length/ 1.3 1.2 1 .1 width ratio Fruit length/ Longer than Longer than Longer than width ratio broad broad broad Fruit hollow 3.050 1.880 2.310 length (cm) Fruit hollow 0.770 0.850 0.790 width (cm) Fruit hollow 4.0 2.2 2.9 length/width ratio Fruit weight (g) 29.9 23.8 31.8 Relative fruit Between medium Medium Between large size and large and very large Predominant Conical Conical Conical fruit shape Difference in Slight Slight Slight shape between primary & sec- ondary fruits Band without Narrow Absent or very Narrow achenes narrow Unevenness of Between weak Between weak Medium fruit surface and medium and medium Fruit skin RHS 46B RHS 45B RHS 43A color Medium red Medium red Medium red Evenness of Slightly uneven Even Even fruit color Fruit glossiness Strong Strong Strong Insertion of Level with Level with Level with achenes surface surface surface Achene color- RHS 30A RHS 185D RHS 182A ation sunward Medium red Greyed-purple Medium side of berry greyed-red Achene RHS 151D RHS 151D RHS 150C coloration Light yellow- Light yellow- Light yellow- shaded side green green green of berry Insertion of Level Level Level calyx Pose of Between Between Between calyx spreading spreading and spreading and segments and reflexed reflexed reflexed Size of calyx Larger Between same Larger in relation to size and larger fruit Adherence of Strong Strong Strong calyx Firmness of Medium Firm Medium flesh Color of the RHS 43B RHS 42B RHS 40C flesh Medium red Medium red Medium red Evenness of Slightly uneven Slightly uneven Slightly uneven flesh color Distribution of Only marginal Marginal and Marginal and flesh color central central Hollow center Small Medium Medium Sweetness Strong Strong Strong Acidity Medium Medium Medium Texture when Between fine Medium Fine tasted and medium Time of Early Very early Early flowering Harvest matur- Early December Late November Late November ity (50% of to late April to mid-March to mid-March plants with ripe fruit) Type of Not everbearing Partially Partially bearing everbearing everbearing Grams of 568 360 448 fruit/plant

Table 7 shows pest and disease characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Atlantis’ and ‘Driscoll Sanibel’.

TABLE 7 Pest or ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Disease ‘DrisStrawSix’ Atlantis’ Sanibel’ Xanthomonas Susceptible Moderately Moderately fragarie susceptible susceptible 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant, as described and shown herein. 